Men's basketball survives Dallas College Eastfield, 84-83, to advance

After leading for much of the game and by as much as 12 points, the Wolves found themselves down by one with just seconds left.

Ricky Hill fired off a shot which bounced off the rim, but Kareem Parker hauled in the offensive rebound and scored with just four seconds remaining. The sequence proved key, as No. 12 Joliet Junior College men's basketball survived No. 4 Dallas College Eastfield's rally, 84-83, to advance to the NJCAA Division III National Tournament quarterfinals.

"Kareem has just been getting better and better," said Wolves head coach Danny Turner after the game. "He has unbelievable potential."

The freshman forward scored 10 points off the bench, finishing 4-for-5 and making both of his free throws. He hauled in six total rebounds in the win.

Turner said free throw shooting was key to the Wolves' victory, as they shot 82% from the line, going 23-for-28. 

It was Hill who powered the Wolves' offense. The freshman guard scored 27 points and made 10 of his 11 free throw attempts. He also finished with six assists and five rebounds.

"Ricky Hill is one of the most gifted players that I've coached," said Turner. "His feel and ability to make reads is his gift."

Elsewhere on the floor, sophomore Levi Goad scored 15 points while hauling in two boards and dishing out three assists to go along with a steal. Sophomore Jyaveion Green scored 13 points and hauled in three rebounds, as well as three assists. 

Sophomore Jeffrey Fleming had a quiet outing by his standards, finishing with eight points and seven rebounds along with an assist. 

In all, the Wolves shot 48.2% from the field. Both teams scored 38 points in the paint, but Eastfield had more second chance points. 

The Harvester Bees took an early 1-0 lead that seemed to last for more than two minutes before JJC took it's first lead of the day. At the half, the Wolves lead, 45-40, but allowed the Bees to come out of the break hot. The Wolves held firm, extending their lead by as much as 12 points with 8:49 remaining, while the Bees' largest lead was by just four in the first half. 

"We didn't play well overall, but winning ugly is fine," Turner said. "We'll have to come back tomorrow and lock in much better."

After surviving the Bees' rally, the Wolves earned themselves a chance in the NJCAA Division III National Tournament quarterfinals, where they will face No. 4 Salem Community College. That game will begin at 3 p.m. CST and can be streamed at njcaa.org/network.